I frequently hear that we need to pass comprehensive immigration reform to resolve our immigration problem. So what is comprehensive immigration reform?

In 1986, Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which provided amnesty to 2 million to 3 million illegal immigrants, along with other provisions, with the assurance that it would solve our immigration problems forever. Because the government did not enforce the law, we now have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. Those who broke the law now want the government to pass new legislation to give them a pass to remain here and provide them with a path to citizenship.

What good is legislation that is not enforced?

Jack Lintz, Littleton

This letter was published in the Dec. 9 edition.

Why is it none of the discussion around having millions of people in our country who broke the law getting into the country involves closing the southern border and building an impenetrable wall? Like stopping the leak in the broken pipe before we try to mop up the water.

Larry Breeden, Elizabeth

This letter was published in the Dec. 9 edition.

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“Immigration reform? Didn’t Congress try that in 1986?”
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Of course we did.

The “mantra” then is the same now: “Let’s reward the law-breakers who have gotten away with it for so long……and really, really, really start cracking down on all the future law-breakers.”

Why should we believe our government…..now……when we couldn’t believe our government for the past 26 years?

Why should we expect our government to ENFORCE our LAWS starting…..now…..when our government couldn’t, didn’t, or have any real desire to for the last 26 years?

Why should Future Generations of Illegal Immigrants believe that our government and President Obama is now going to take the illegal immigration problem seriously…….when, after a decade or two, our government throws in the towel……and rewards those who break the law for a long enough period of time?

All this “immigration reform” does is tell those who want to enter our country illegally to do so……and eventually they will be rewarded…….which actually has the effect of ENCOURAGING others to illegally enter this country……..instead of going through the LEGAL process.

#2 Comment By Raygina On December 9, 2012 @ 4:55 pm

To the woman who wrote about the wall: Are you really that dumb? Has it occurred to you that not all the illegals come from the south? Or how much commercial traffic goes both ways over the border? Please do some research before coming up with knee jerk responses.

#3 Comment By guest On December 10, 2012 @ 12:03 am

The 1986 Immigration Reform Act contained a key provision that was never implemented. That provision was closing the Southern border. That is the FIRST thing that needs to be done before any other reform is on the table.